I vividly remember the day when I first heard you were coming. I thought my world had ended at the mere thought of sharing my family with another sibling, especially that sibling being a boy. I thought my life was perfect the way it was, and you were about to come into the picture and put a damper on my whole life plan. Nine months later you were born, and preceded to impact my life in ways I could have never imagined in those ignorant stages of my youth. It is so hard to believe how much I fought the fact that you were coming into my life, and now I cannot imagine another life without you.

I’d like to start by thanking you for making me tough. All those long hours of participating in Nerf gun wars or learning how to play video games have surprisingly made me a much tougher version of myself. Thanks to you, I wasn’t afraid to get a little dirt on my hands, or even go all out during kickball games at school. Thank you for not allowing me to grow up to become one of those girls who are afraid to take on the world because she is afraid she will break a nail. Thank you for teaching me not to cry every time I get hurt, and for always picking me up even when you literally pushed me to the ground. I wouldn’t take back any of those wrestling matches for the world.

Thank you for teaching me about sports. I have always considered myself a lover of sports, and it seems appropriate to equate most of that love to what you have taught me. Those days playing baseball in the front yard where you taught me the exact stance and correct way to swing a bat because it apparently embarrassed you if I attempted it my own way. Thanks for forcing me to watch countless hours of ESPN because you wanted to see one play from the game last night, and thanks for letting me watch "Say Yes To The Dress" when I finally stole the remote from you.

Thanks for being that grounded, logical voice I can go to in times of need. When my girl brain seems to be going a million miles a minute, thank you for comforting me with the logical approach I had always known, but simply needed to hear. Thank you for supporting me in all that I do even if it does not make sense to you. You may not be the person I can go to with my daily gossip or my wardrobe questions, but you are my person. You are the one I grew up with, and the one that has always been there to make me a better version of myself.

As part of my duties as your older sister, I take it upon myself to protect you from all those that threaten your well-being. When the time comes that you find a girl you really like, I will do everything in my power to be sure she is just as genuine and kind of a person as you are. If this same girl turns right back around and breaks your heart, you bet I will be there for you without any questions asked. If you ever need any advice, I will be happy to give it to you given that I have already made many mistakes that you can learn from. Consider it my gift to you.

If you ever want to play one last game of baseball in the front yard before you eventually grow up and move on to other things, I will happily oblige. Thank you for everything you have taught me so far, you will never understand how much it has impacted me. You will always be my baby brother, and I could not imagine it any other way. Love you bro.

Love,

Your big sis